Light Truck Drivers Salary
Light Truck Drivers in South Dakota make a median of $43,240 a year, or about $20.79 an hour. The range runs from $28K at the entry level to $59K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.89), which stretches that salary to about $48,103 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,017/month, about 32.7% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across South Dakota. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $43K get you in South Dakota?
About light truck drivers
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What this looks like in South Dakota
Light truck drivers pay in South Dakota tracks closely to the national median, $43K locally vs. $45K nationwide, a 4% difference. Rent runs $1,017/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 33.2% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 89.89 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 10% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Pay and costs are both near average, leaving limited margin for savings at the median wage.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, South Dakota
Entry-level light truck drivers (10th percentile) start around $28K. Mid-career wages sit at $43K. Top earners bring in $59K or more, a $32K spread from bottom to top.
Light Truck Drivers salary by metro in South Dakota
2 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rapid City | $43K | +0% | 800 |
| Sioux Falls | $43K | -1% | 2,080 |
Compare to other states
Track light truck drivers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when South Dakota numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a light truck driver afford a 2BR apartment alone in South Dakota?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $43K, rent takes 33.2% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,017/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $900/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for light truck drivers in South Dakota?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new light truck drivers typically earn — is $28K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,651/month. At HUD’s $1,017/month FMR, rent would take 62% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is light truck driver a high-paying job in South Dakota?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $43K locally vs. $45K nationally, a 4% difference.
How does South Dakota compare to the national average for light truck drivers?
South Dakota pays $43K median vs. the U.S. average of $45K — that’s -4%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.89), the purchasing-power equivalent is $48K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do light truck drivers make in South Dakota?
The median is $43,240 a year, that works out to about $21 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $27,520, and experienced light truck drivers can clear $59,400. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $43K enough to live in South Dakota?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,065/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,017/month, which eats 33.2% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a light truck drivers salary go in South Dakota?
South Dakota has a Regional Price Parity of 89.89 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median light truck drivers salary is worth about $48,103 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do light truck drivers get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.